Warnings: None

They don't want to hear, that much is obvious to Phil, but he forges on anyway. He cares about this team, so help him he does, and that means he has to point out when they're going about something the wrong way. But good heavens, it's like talking to a bunch of teenagers. Oversized (Thor), wealthy (Tony…he's never letting any of them forget it), and physically powerful (Natasha and Thor…with Hulk thrown in when he decides to pop around) teenagers. Yep, that sums up Phil's life perfectly.

Fury's probably laughing at him right now. Oh, Phil, completely ignoring the fact that you nearly died, can you help Miss Potts look after the team. I can't trust anyone else for such a sensitive mission. Sensitive, his foot. Fury just wants to get back at him for winning all those poker games. Cheater. And a sore loser it would seem. Figures. Fury never did know when to bow out graciously.

Phil snorts. Yeah, gracious, that says Fury. Graciously vindictive is more like it. Oh well, he did accept the offer (order), so he'll just deal like he always does. Plus, if he survived Natasha and Clint, he's pretty sure he'll live through this. Pepper will see to that. Otherwise, who else will watch Sherlock with her?

"That's enough!" Pepper shouts, right on cue. Sometimes, Phil thinks he might love this woman. He can definitely see why she can handle Tony and runs Stark Industries. Smart and commanding. Phil's glad he thought to ask for her help in this.

"Thank you, Miss Potts," Phil grips his folders and continues as if people weren't just yelling at him and each other. "Now, if you can all be civilized…"

Pouts, but no verbal snarks. Good.

"Good." Phil relaxes a bit. "Now, I know you all want to help Loki, but having so many people in and out of his room is only confusing him. In fact, it frightens him."

"We didn't mean for it to go that way, sir," Rogers says. "It just sort of happened."

"And I understand that, Captain, but the point remains. Loki needs less people to distract him. He should be focusing on healing, but instead he's worried about all these new masters he has to figure out and please." Phil holds up a hand to stop the flow of words that threaten to pour of Tony's mouth. "I know that's not what you were aiming for. Trust me. But Loki sees it that way. Does he not, Agent Romanoff?"

Natasha nods. "He does. I tried to warn them."

"Like how?" Tony asks. "All I remember is you saying 'stay out, or else'? Anyone get the same message?"

Mumbles of agreement.

"See?" Tony says, waving an arm. "Not clear at all."

"It kind of is, Tony," Pepper cuts in, and Tony gets a hurt look. "Oh don't even try. You knew what she meant, but you thought you were just smarter than her and did your own thing. Now, Steve might have missed the memo, but that's only because he left the tower before she gave that warning."

Steve shifts uncomfortably as Tony tosses him a glare that clearly says 'suck up'. "What's the plan then, sir?"

"As of now, I think we should go back to Dr. Banner and Agent Romanoff dealing with all the hands on things. Loki knows them the best."

More pouts, but no one disagrees. Phil smiles, just because he knows it freaks them out. "Excellent. Agent Romanoff, Barton, if you would?"

Natasha and Clint both get up and follow him out of the room. Phil waits until they are a good few floors down in the elevator before he looks up to the ceiling. "Jarvis, do you think you could block any video or audio transmissions? This is need-to-know. You may keep records yourself, should the need ever arise that it be shared."

There is a pregnant pause, almost as if Jarvis is thinking this over, and then: "Of course, sir. Transmissions now disabled."

"Thank you." Phil turns to his agents. "Anything to report?"

"Loki's progressing," Natasha says. "But I'd like permission to up the ante."

"Permission denied."

Natasha raises a perfectly shaped eyebrow.

Phil levels his best look at her. "He's not Red Room, Natasha. He won't grow from you pushing too hard, he'll break and die."

Her face twitches, which is about as good as a flinch. "Sir."

Phil softens his eyes. "I'm not saying mother him, I'm not even saying you need to stop doing that stuff with his name and the food, just…let Bruce do his thing too. Stop fighting him at every turn. Sometimes, a bit of honey is needed too."

"Yes sir."

She gets off at Loki's floor and then it's just Clint and Phil in the elevator. Well, that went well. Now to deal with the other elephant in the room. Phil glances over at Clint. The archer is as tense as his bowstring and just as silent. Phil sighs. "How're you doing?"

"Fine, sir."

"I think we both know that's not true."

"Sir…" Clint looks away. "I need to see him. Met him."

"Revenge?"

"Closure." Clint's eyes are haunted as they turn to him. "He ripped me apart, but yet he didn't. I have to see that difference myself before I can deal. I'm not going to dropkick him, sir. I swear."

"I know." And Phil does. He knew from the beginning Clint wasn't a vindictive man. Yes, he could hold a grudge, but show him the facts and he'd let go just as quick. Phil picks some invisible flint off his jacket. "Give it time. Loki's not ready yet."

"Yeah, so everyone keeps telling me."

"Self-pity never looks good on anyone, Clint." Phil frowns. "You say you want closure. To deal. But that's only you. Poor you, and I grant you that you've got baggage and reason. I'm not trying to minimize the horror you went through, but Loki's got that too. And you know it. You just don't care. You want this out of the way. So what if Loki gets hurt in the process. Little snit deserves it, after what he did to you."

Clint's gone pale; whether from anger or panic, Phil can't tell.

Phil reaches out and grips his shoulder. "You're a good man, Clint. That's why we hired you. Now, you've got to live up to that reputation. You've got to be the bigger man."

"It's hard, sir."

"No one said it wouldn't be." Phil squeezes Clint's shoulder and lets go. He gets off at his floor and leaves Clint to ride down to the ground level. The archer's on debris duty downtown. Phil hopes what he says turns into something meaningful to Clint. He doesn't want to be overly harsh, but sometimes the other man needs someone to give it in black-and-white for him to see it. Phil sighs as he drops his folders on the couch and goes to make himself some coffee.

Maybe he could've handled that better, but he never claimed to have all the answers. Never said he was the comforting sort. Heck, there's a reason he's not married. It just wouldn't work. But his agents both wanted his advice and he gave it. Now they had to choose whether or not to act on it.

Hi all. I'm back. I hope this little chapter meets your expectations. I know it's short and minus any Loki, but it was also necessary for later chapters. Plus, I wanted to update this story before Thanksgiving. Hopefully, I'll have an extra long chapter for you all by Christmas. Any help in that regard (suggestions, wishes, etc) are most accepted.

As usual, please review and let me know what you think. I was so scared to write Phil. I feel like I made him a bit harsh, but then, he'd be the one to take the bull by the horns. man has guts.